Speed-changing mechanism for motor-cars.



A. H. ADAMS & M. G. I. HUNTER. SPEED CHANGING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR OARS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1910.

1,006,893, Patented 012K2 1, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1. Q Z 1 1. D X

A. H. ADAMS & M. G. I. HUNTER. SPEED CHANGING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR CARS. APPLIOATION FILED JULY 15, 1910.

1,006,893. -,Pa,tented 001211911.

3 SHEETSSHEIBT 2.

E S JG a "cud azjzicnzer' A. H. ADAMS & M. 0. I. HUNTER. SPEED CHANGING MEQHANISM FOR MOTOR CARS.

APPLIOATIOI? FILED JULY 15, 1910.

Patented Oct. 24, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ARTHUR HENRY ADAMS, OF LONDON, BEDFORD, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS T0 QEFTQ AND MARCUS CHARLES INMAN HUNTER, OF ADAMS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LIMITED,

OF LONDON, ENGLAND, A CORPORATION OF GREAT BRITAIN.

SPEED-CHANGING MECHANI$M FOR MOTOR-CARS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ARTHUR HENRY AnAMs, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at London, England, and MARcUs CHARLES INMAN HUNTER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Bedford, England, have invented new and useful Improvements Relating to Speed- Changing Mechanism for Motor-Cars and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to speed-changing mechanism for motor-cars, road locomotives and like vehicles and comprises improved means for actuating changespeed gears of any suitable type (e. g. sliding gear-wheel,

I planetary, epicyclic) by means of pedals.

. is a side elevation,

The improved mechanism'is of the kind wherein a series of longitudinally-movable members, which are respectively connected to the several speeds of a change-speed-gear, are actuated alternatively by means of alever, which can be oscillated abouttwo axes that are perpendicular to each other and which has its alternative longitudinal paths defined by the slots of a gate-plate.

According to the present invention, the said longitudinally-movable members are made in the form of superposed plates having apertures through which the transversely and longitudinally-movable lever permanently extends, the rear walls of said apertures registering with the rear wall of the transverse slot of the gate-plate when the several are in their inoperative positions, so as to insure that all the speeds of the changespeed-gear shall be brought into such inoperative position when the transversely and longitudinally-movable lever is returned to said transverse slot. This return of the transversely and longitudinally-movable lever to said transverse slot is effected by means of a cam on an lndependent lever which simultaneously serves for throwing out of engagement the driving clutch of the motor andiapplying the brake. The said invention moreover comprises means for automatically bringing the transversely and longitudinally-movable lever opposite one of the notches or slots of the gate-plate.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 partly in vertical section,

and Fig. 2 a plan. showing one form of the Specification of.I.etters Patent.

I slot. In the speeds of the change-speed gear.

improved mechanism in its off or neutral position. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line XX, Fig. 1. Figs. 4, 5 and are plan views showing details of construction. Figs. 7 and 8 are vertical sections illustrating the operation of returning the speed-pedal to its oil or neutral position. Fig. 9 is a vertical sect-ion corresponding to Fig. l and showing a modifiedform of construction. Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing a further modified form of construction. Figs. 11 and 12 are plan views of the modified form of construction shown in Fig. 10, showing details of construction.

Referring to these drawings, a is a pedal termed the speed-pedal, which is provided at its free end with a footor toe-plate 2) having upwardly-extending flanges c, c for engaging the sides of the drivers foot. This pedal is pivoted at d to one end of a short shaft 6 which is rotatably mounted in a casting or frame f fixed for example to the change-speed-gear box g.

The pedal a has mounted thereon an arm or lever h which extends into the frame f and engages at its free end with a gate-plate j forming a top to the frame f. This plate has a series of slots k, 70 k extending longitudinally of the vehicle and opening at their rear ends into a transverse slot m, the rear wall of which is formed with inclined surfaces converging toward the center of the frame 7, beneath the gate-plate j, are arranged sliding plates n, 0, p, each of which is formed with an internal aperture to clear the lever in and with a projection (n', 0, ,1) respectively) extending into said aperture and corresponding in position to' one of the longitudinal slots of the gateplate. The apertures in the said plates have their rear walls registering with the rear wall of the transverse slot m in the gateplate and have their internal projections extending toward said rear wall but at a distance therefrom slightly greater than the width of the lever in, so as to enable said lever to pass freely between said wall and projection and to move the plate in either direction with a minimum amount of lost motion. Each of these plates is connected to a lever (g, r, 8 respectively) controlling one of the speeds of the change-speed gear. The two upper plates n, 0 have rods u, 21 coupled directly to their levers 1* while the Patented (Oct. 245, 11911.. Application filed July 15, 1910. Serial No. 572,180.

a" to the box 9, so as to draw the lever h 3 toward the inclines on the rear wall of the slot m and, by causing it to slide along one or other of said inclines, return it to the midposition. The spring :20 is made of sufficient strength to move the lever it along the transverse slot m to its mid-position as above described, but is sufliciently weak to allow the said lever to be retained in its forward position by the friction of the sliding plates and connected parts when moved into suchforward position by the pedal (1. The pedal (1 is further provided with a projection 3 which is adapted to engage with a cam-lever 2 on a second pedal 1, in order to return the lever h to the slot m from any of the slots 70 70 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 with reference to the slot 70 and sliding plate n. The projection y is pivotally mounted on the speed-pedal a, so as to yield when the pedal 1 is moved backward, in order to prevent any possibility of the speed-pedal a being locked in either of its extreme positions by the cam-lever .2. If desired the pivoted projection y jection e. 9. formed integrally with the lever II- or pedal (1, as shown at y in Fig. 9. The pedal 1 may also be connected to the brakemechanism of the car by means of a link 2, and through a shaft 3 and lever 1 to the clutch 5 in the shaft 6 between the engine and the change-speed-gear. The connection with the brake-mechanism is preferably made in such a mannerthat the brake shall only come into action toward the end of the forward travel of this pedal 1. The reversing gear is preferably actuated by means of an independent lever 7.

The operation of the improved gear is as follows :-Assuming it to be desired to throw into operation'the speed to be controlled by the lever r, the pedal a is swun to the left whereby the lever 71. is also move toward the left hand end of the transverse slot m. The

lever 72. is then pushed forward into the longitudinal slot is so as to come into engagement with the projection 0 on the sliding plate 0 and so move the said plate together with its rod 1) forward and so turn the lever 1" sufficiently to throw into gear the speed controlled thereby. If it be desired to throw into gear the speed controlled by the lever g, the pedal 1 is pressed down. so as to cause the cam lever 2 to press against the projection y on the pedal a and return this pedal to its original position, Fig. 1, thereby returning the plate 0 and lever r to their original positions and causing the lever h to'come into contact with. the rear wall of the transverse slot m. The spring a: then causes it'to slide along the left hand incline to the central position. The pedal (1 is then can be replaced by a rigidpro pushed forward without being deflected either to the right or to the left, so as to cause the lever 72. to enter the center longitudinal slot 1: of the gate-plate. In so doing it engages with the projection 11. on the plate n and moves this plate forward together with the lever 9, thus throwing into operation the corresponding speed of the change-speed-gear. The return of the lever h and plate 0 is effectedas shown in Figs.

.7.and 8. I

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 10, 11

and.12,--instead of returning the speed pedal a and lever 71. to their original positions by means of a pedal 1, the spring a is made of sufficient strength to return the pedal a and lever 71. to their original positions. In order.

to avoid the necessity of holding the speedpedal forward continuously by the foot, the toe-plate b is made separately from the pedal a and is pivotally connected thereto at 8. This pivoted toe-plate b is provided with a toothed extension or catch 9 which, when the speed-pedal is pushed forward, is

drawn by a spring 10 into engagement with the teeth of one or the other of a series of racks 11, 12, 13 corresponding to the several longitudinal slots 70, k of the gate plate, according to which. ofthe said slots the lever h is brought into engagement with. By this means, the speed-pedal a can be held in its forward position as long as desired without attention from thedriver. In or- 'der to release the speed-pedal, it is only necessary to press forward the upper edge of the toe-plate b, so as to move the tooth or catch 9 out of engagement with the rack 11, 12 or 13, whereupon the speed-pedal and lever k can be returned to their originalpositions by the spring at.

What we claim is 1. The combination, with the operating members of a change-speed-gear, of a gateplate having one transverse slot and a plurality of longitudinal slots connected with said transverse slot, a plurality of superposed sliding plates movable parallel to said gate-plate and having apertures whose rear walls in the rearmost position of the plates register with the rear wall of the transverse slot of said gate-plate, means for guiding said sliding plates, a lever pivotally mounted to move in the slots of said gateplate and extending permanently through the apertures of saidsliding plates, projections in the apertures of said sliding plates corresponding respectively in position with the longitudinal slots of said gate-plate, and means for connecting said sliding plates with the operating members of the changelongitudinal slots connected with said transverse slot, a plurality of superposed sliding plates movable parallel to said gate-plate and having apertures whose inclined rear walls in the rearmost position of the plates register with the inclined rear wall of the transverse slot of said gate-plate, means for guiding said slidingplates, a lever pivotally mounted to move in the slots of said gateplate and extending permanently through the apertures of said sliding plates, projections in the apertures of said sliding plates corresponding respectively in position with the longitudinal slots of said gate-plate, means for connecting said sliding plates with the operating members of the change- 'f speed-gear, and elastic means for drawing said lever toward said incline'd rear wall of the transverse slot of the gate-plate. v

I he combination, with the operating members of a change-speed-gear, of a gateplate having a transverse slot formed with an inclined rear wall and a plurality of longitudinal slots connected verse slot, a plurality of superposed sliding plates movable parallel to said gate-plate and having apertures whose inclined rear walls in the rearmost position of the plates register with the inclined rear wall of the transverse slot of said gate-plate, means for guiding said sliding plates, a lever pivotally mounted to move in the slots of said gateplate and extending permanently through the apertures of said sliding plates, projections in the apertures of said sliding plates corresponding respectively in position with the longitudinal slots of said means for connecting said sliding plates transverse slot, and an with the operating members of the changespeed-gear, elastic means for drawing said lever toward said inclined rear wall of the transverse slot of the gate-plate, a pedal connected to said lever, a projection on said lever, an independently-pivoted cam-lever adapted to engage said projection, and a pedal connected to said cam-lever.

The combination, with the operating members of a change-speed-gear, of a gateplate having one transverse slot, a plurality of longitudinal slots connected with said inclined rear wall to said transverse slot, a lever pivotally mounted to move in said slots, a spring acting to draw said-lever against said inclined wall, a series of sliding plates guided to move parallel to said gate-plate and provided with apertures through which said lever perma I dinal nently extends, projections on said sliding plates adapted to register with the longituslots of said gate-plate respectively and means for connecting said sliding plates with said operating members of the changespeed-gear respectively.

5. The combination, with the operating members of a change-speed-gear, of a gatewith said transgate-plate,

plate having one transverse rality of longitudinal slots said transverse slot, a plurality of superposed sliding plates movable parallel to said gate-plate and having apertures whose rear walls in the rear'most position of the plates register with the rear wall of the transverse slot of said gate-plate, means for guiding said sliding plates, a lever pivotally mounted to move in the slots of said gate-plate and extending permanently through the apertures of said sliding plates, projections in the apertures of said sliding-plates corresponding respectively in position with the longitudinal slots of said gate-plate, means or connecting said sliding plateswith the operating members of the change-speed-gear respectively, a pedal connected to said lever, a projection on said lever, an independently pivoted cam-lever adapted to engage said slot and a pluconnected with i projection, a pedal connected to said camlever, a clutch, a brake-rod, and coupling devices between said cam-lever, the movable member of said clutch and said brake-rod.

6. The combination, with the operating members of a changespeed-gear, of a gateplate having a transverse slot and a plurality of longitudinal slots connected with said transverse slot, a lever-mounted to move in the slots of said gate-plate, a series of sliding plates guided to move parallel to said gate-plate, projections onvsaid sllding plates adapted to register with the longitudinal slots of said gate-plate respectively, means for connecting said sliding plates with the said operating members or" the change-speed-gear respectively, a pro ectlon on said lever, an independently pivoted camlever adapted to engage-with said projection and a pedal connected to'said cam-lever.

7. The combination, with the operating members of a change-speed-gear, of a gateplate having a transverse slot and a plurality of longitudinal slots connected with said transverse slot, move in the slots of said of sliding plates guided to move parallel to said gate-plate, projections on said sliding plates adapted to register with the longitudinal slots of said gate-plate respectively, means for connecting said sliding plates with said operating members of the change speed-gear respectively, an independentlypivoted cam-lever, a pedal connected to said cam-lever, for engaging said cam-lever.

8. The combination, with the operating members of a change-speedgear, of a gateplate having a transverse slot and a plurality of longitudinal slots connected with said transverse slot, a plurality plates movable parallel to said gate-plate and having apertures whose the rearmost with the rear gate-plate, a series a selector-lever mounted to and means on said selector lever of superposed rear walls in the gate-plate, means for guiding said plates, a selector-lever mounted to move in the slots of said. gateplate and extending through the apertures of said plates, projections in the apertures of said plates corresponding respectively in position with the longitudinal slots of said gate-plate, means for connecting said plates with the operating members of the change-speed-gear, elastic means for drawing said selector-lever toward said rear wall of the transverse slot of the gateplate, a pedal connected to said selector-- lever, an independently-pivoted cam-lever, a pedal connected to said cam-lever, and means on said selector-lever for engaging said cam-lever.

' 9. The combination, with the operating members of a change-speed-gear, of a gateplate having one transverse slot and a plurality of longitudinal slots connected with said transverse slot, a plurality of superposed sliding plates movable parallel to said gate-plate and having apertures whose rear walls in the rearmost position of the plates register with the rear wall of the transverse slot of said gate-plate, means for guiding said sliding plates, a lever pivotally mounted to move in the slots of said gate-plate and extending permanently through the apertures of said sliding plates, projections in the apertures of said sliding plates corresponding respectively in position with the longitudinal slots of said gate-plate, means for connecting said sliding plates with the operating members of the change-speedgear respectively, and means for returning said lever to the transverse slot of said gateplate.

10. The combination, with the operating members of a change-speed-gear, of a gateplate having one transverse slot and a'plurality of longitudinal slots connected with said transverse slot, a plurality of superposed shdlng plates movable parallel to said.

gate-plate and having apertures whose rear walls in the rearmost position of the plates register with the rear wall of the transverse slot of said gate plate, means for guiding said sliding plates, a lever pivotally mounted to move in the slots of said gate-plate and extending permanently through the apertures of said sliding plates, projections in the apertures of said sliding plates corresponding respectively in position with the longitudinal slots of saidgate-plate, means for connecting said sliding plates with the operating members of the change-speed-gear respectively, a pedal connected to said lever, projections on said pedal for engaging the sides of the foot, and means for returning said lever to the transverse slot of said gate plate.

11. The combination, with the'operating members of a change-speed-gear, of a gateplate having a transverse slotand a plurality of longitudinal slots connected with said transverse slot, a selector-lever mounted to a move in the slots of said gate-plate, means for returning said selector-lever to the transverse slot of the gate-plate, a pedal connected to said selector-lever, means for detachably securing said pedal in the position in which the selector-lever is in one of the longitudinal slots of the gate-plate, a plurality of superposed plates movable parallel to said gate-plate and having apertures through which said selector-lever extends, projections in the apertures of said plates corresponding respectively in position with the longitudinal slots of said gate-plate, means for guiding said plates and means for connecting said plates with the operating members of the change-speed-gear respectively.

ARTHUR HENRY ADAMS. MARCUS CHARLES INMAN HUNTER.

Witnesses:

I-LD. JAMEsoN, ALFRED NU'ITING. 

